Creating a Wildlife Garden: Cover

Take inventory of not only the plants in your yard but also your neighbors. Are there mature canopy trees such as pines, hollies, oaks and maples? Are there understory trees such as cherry, serviceberry and viburnums? What shrubs, perennials and grasses are there? By getting an idea of what there already is, then one can fill in the gaps. Choose plants that are native to your area. These are often ones that have berries and are beneficial to wildlife. Offer a variety of shrubs, not just one of each but three to five of each. By massing them together you will provide denser cover. The more the merrier! Check the fruiting times of shrubs and trees and purchase ones that will offer food at different times of the year.